• Rubi Reyes •
• Originally published January 21, 2009 at 11:34 p.m., updated January 21, 2009 at 11:34 p.m.

The Runge High School senior class members may not have been as close to President Barack Obama as they'd hoped, but the jumbotron was good enough, Nathan Sturm, 18, said.

The 17-member senior class was closer to the Washington Monument than they were to the U.S. Capitol, Candace Franke, 17, said.

Even though they could not see the president face-to-face, they heard every word loud and clear.

"His speech was great," Paloma Reyes, 18, said. "We are a part of history."

Witnessing history on her 18th birthday was an unexplainable feeling, Gabby Espericueta said.

"I will remember this for the rest of my life. This is a once in a life-time experience," Gabby said.

The students stood shoulder to shoulder with the estimated 1.4 million others who witnessed the inauguration live.

"You could just see and feel the emotion," Paloma said.

The students had breakfast at 4:30 a.m. and left their hotel at 5 a.m. to make it to the mall location by 7:45 a.m. Jeff Steele, social studies teacher, said.

"We stayed in that spot until the inauguration was over," Steele said. "Being able to watch the first African-American be sworn in was amazing."

The students and chaperones linked their arms together to make it through the pushy crowds.

"There were so many people all trying to get closer and they would push through us and break our links," Paloma said. "We would stop and make sure every one was together and continue walking."

Through the WorldStrides company, the students were able to take a tour of the Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall and many other monuments and museums.

"When we were at the Vietnam Wall, snow flurries began to fall, it was just amazing," Paloma said.

The students were able to attend the inauguration because of money from fundraisers and donations. The students arrived in San Antonio late Wednesday.

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